With more than half of the government of Guam’s 110 operational school buses beyond their service life and given the recurring problems with maintenance and school, it’s time elected officials privatized school bus services.

The government of Guam lacks the resources to provide adequate planning and oversight of public transportation services. That’s been proven year after year after year.

The Department of Public Works has a fleet of 133 school buses. Only 110 are operational. The 23 are out of service until repair parts are available to complete maintenance. And of the 110 operational buses, 78 buses are beyond their service life, according to Public Works.

School bus services suffer because elected officials have never adequately funded Public Works. The agency doesn’t have enough mechanics and other resources to keep buses maintained or to repair them when they break down. Public Works also has problems ordering parts because of GovGuam’s cumbersome procurement process.

Public Works has ordered 45 new school buses and proposed legislation would allow the agency to purchase up to 10 more. That’s not enough to replace all the buses that should be retired from service.

Bus Operation Superintendent Frank Taitano said an additional 56 buses — and bus drivers — are needed to take the fleet total up to 189 and properly serve all 179 bus runs.

The best solution to this recurring problem is full privatization. The government could transfer the school bus fleet to the business that takes over, with the value of the buses used to offset the cost of the contractor’s services. In order to keep the contract, the company would have to meet performance standards.

And GovGuam would pay only for bus services for public school students. Private schools would have to arrange for their own transportation needs. This would reduce the government’s costs.

GovGuam needs to get out of the bus business. School bus operations need to be privatized.